2008 California Election Forum

Many of the Republican candidates for president are advocating a big change in the tax system, to make it less abusive, more fair and to increase economic growth for all.

Basically, the IRS is out control:

• Its auditors are heartless and arbitrary
• It becomes more complicated and expensive each year

This year, it took the average American 24.2 hours and $207 to fill out their 1040 form. This is up from 23.3 hours and $179 three years ago.

However, if you're self-employed, it takes 80 hours. I know I had to spend over $5,000 on the tax return for my business and hundreds of employee hours.

6.654 billion hours were spent in America on federal tax returns this year! And Americans spent $102 billion just for tax preparation, software and related expenses.

And unless something is done, it will get worse.

Part of our evaluation of each candidate for president (and other offices) is their position on tax simplification and reduction.

Unhealthy systems: “In nations where government dominates the healthcare system, budgets are set, medical care is rationed, and the system takes care of institutions more than people.

Without change, Medicare and Medicaid face the same fate, with long lines, lower quality, and higher taxes.”—Michael Leavitt, U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services.

The Department of Veterans Affairs conducted a nationwide study to examine the future use of its facilities.

One of the facilities in West Los Angeles has 387 acres and 91 buildings...of which over 21 are partially or wholly vacant.

Its recommendation was to reduce the wasted space and modernize the facility (and establish other important services for Vets) with the estimated 4 billion dollars it could raise.

The facility would keep 108 acres (huge!) and the remaining 200-plus acres could be leased out, raising money for better Vet care.

But the politicians and liberals in the area objected.

So Senator Feinstein slipped an earmark provision in the Vet bill to ban the VA from selling or leasing anything. What a waste of taxpayer money and an injustice to our Vets.

At a Democratic debate, John Edwards was asked if he would be comfortable having the “King and King” kid book—where two men are kissing at the end and living “happily ever after”—read to second graders (7 years old).Edwards responded “I don't want to make that decision on behalf of my children. I want my children to be able to make that decision on behalf of themselves, and I want them to be exposed to all the information, even in (chuckling), what did you say, second grade?

“Well, second grade might be a little tough, but even in second grade, to be exposed to all those possibilities. Because I don't want to impose my view—nobody made me God—I don't get to decide on behalf of my family and my children...I don't get to impose on them what it is that I believe is right.”

With Iran in the news, many are forgetting about the persecuted Christians-the ones who hold the hope and future for an Iran living without oppression and Muslim extremists.

But the Iranian government prohibits anyone from converting from Islam to Christianity.

Not long ago the news reported on a man who was lashed 34 times after a copy of the Gospel, printed in Farsi, was found in his car.

Pray for this man and other believers in Iran.

And in Uzbekistan, the government is cracking down on Christians throughout their country.

Churches are being taken by the government through tax and regulation policies, pastors have been arrested and fined up to one year's wages, individual believers fined and Christian literature confiscated. Raids are increasing.

Pray for protection, safety and boldness for brothers and sisters now under attack.